Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Poppy
A billionaire.
My father had left me a billionaire, and I wasn’t exactly sure how I felt about it.
I stared down at the account numbers in my hand and shook my head.
None of this should have been possible. My father didn’t care about me.
He wasn’t a family man, but the letters told a different story, one I wasn’t ready to face.
It was easier to think of him as the villain in all of our stories, but with the letters now in our possession, I wasn’t so sure he was the real villain, which confused and frustrated me even more.
I didn’t want the money, but also I knew how much this money could change my life.
What I didn’t want was the forced and fake bravado that would come with it.
The people who would flock to my side and pretend they’d always been there.
I rubbed my temples before I yanked open the double doors to my brother’s firm.
They did something in law, though they were always all over the place when asked about it, and it seemed more of a front than anything else.
They’d always been slimy, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they did illegal things behind the scenes.
My heels clicked on the tile with each step as I entered the lobby. Their blonde receptionist gave me a plastic smile as she stacked papers in front of her. “It’s so good to see you, Poppy. How are you holding up these days?”
This was a joke, right?
That’s what I wanted to say, but instead, I forced an equally plastic smile on my face. These kinds of people couldn’t see you weak; they would exploit it.
“I’m doing great, considering I found my father’s head blown to pieces like confetti in his office a week ago.”
The woman didn’t even blink as she nodded her head. Like all of this was small talk. “I heard the news. Your brothers have been having a rough go at it. Would you like me to walk you up?”
I shook my head. “No, I can get to their office on my own, thanks.” It took every ounce of willpower to not punch the elevator button.
My brothers’ firm was on the fiftieth floor.
I didn’t know what happened on the other floors, and I didn’t know if I wanted to.
The golden elevator doors dinged open, and I was let out into an extravagant sitting area.
The door was barely left ajar, which told me they were in a meeting with someone else.
I sat on the edge of the couch, pressed up against the dark green walls, and folded the stack of papers in my lap.
They wanted to talk numbers, they’d said when they called me the previous day.
Wanted to make sure I was settling in on my money okay.
But Jacob’s voice had been tight, and Jones sounded bored.
There was something else they wanted to discuss.
I didn’t usually care about the business dealings they got caught up in, and keeping my head in the sand had only done me favors, but when I heard my name, I tilted my head towards their doors. They had to know I was here, right?
“Poppy doesn’t need protection,” Jones scoffed, and his chair creaked as I was sure he was repositioning himself behind one of the desks in there. “Mrs. Cristof, you have to understand, Poppy hasn’t caught anyone’s eye.”
Mrs. Cristof?
She cleared her throat. “You misunderstand, then. Poppy is now a multi-billionaire, Mr. Fairchild. Your father had a hit on his head. Now he’s gone.” There was a pause. “You have amped up your security, I’ve noticed, but you do not worry over your own sister who just inherited a small fortune?”
It was Jacob’s turn to chuckle. “All of that will be taken care of soon enough; you both don’t need to worry. She is going to be in good hands.”
Good hands? What did that mean? What were they planning?
“We don’t want payment, but we would like to ensure that she stays protected.
She’s a sweet girl. We would hate for something to happen to her,” another woman’s voice chimed in.
“All we ask is that you think about it. She is single, worth billions, and has a brain within her head. She will be a target, if she isn’t already. ”
“Who would you assign to her? You have private security, I’m guessing?” Jacob asked.
“We have someone who would protect her with his life. He is special forces and has an impressive roster.”
Jones clicked his tongue like he always does when he’s getting annoyed. “We will consider it. Thank you both for coming; the proposal was a nice touch, and so was the thoughtfulness to our sister.” Both desk chairs squeaked as I imagined my brothers dismissing the women by standing.
One of the women laughed. “You misunderstand. The proposal is only on the table if you accept that Poppy is looked after.”
Something smacked one of the desks. “Why do you two care so much?”
Mrs. Cristof answered, “We had dealings with your father, as does our son. You’d been mindful to remember that we make sure things are taken care of.”
“Have a wonderful evening, boys.” The other woman practically sneered as the doors were opened by two heavily armed men I’d never seen before.
I blinked in surprise as two older, sophisticated women walked out of my brother's office.
One wore a white fur coat and heels that looked incredibly too high for her age, and the other wore more sensible shoes, but her dark brown fur coat dragged on the ground behind her.
They were not little old ladies. They were forces to be reckoned with.
They were a storm brewing as they set their sights on me.
One of them smiled at me with all of her teeth, her red lipstick a stark contrast to her creamy complexion. “Poppy Fairchild, what a pleasure.”
The other woman regarded me with a raised silver brow. “We will be seeing you.”
And before I could respond, they were gone in the elevator and I was being ushered into the office that my brothers shared. Jones was pinching the bridge of his nose, and Jacob was standing by the massive windows behind their desk. He had his hands shoved into his pockets.
“Do I need to come back another day?”
Jones sighed as he leaned back in his chair. “No, you are right on time. We just went over a bit. That meeting took an unexpected turn.”
I nodded my head, not wanting to give anything away. It would do nothing. They didn’t need to know that I’d overheard all of that; it would complicate things, and I so desperately wanted normal. I knew it was far-fetched, especially after eavesdropping but I could at least pretend. Maybe.
“You wanted to see me about my financials?” After overhearing what I did, I didn’t feel so inclined to share. I was glad I’d folded up the papers so the numbers weren’t visible. I’d never trusted my brothers before; I didn’t know why I would think anything had changed now.
Jacob turned away from the window and raked his fingers through his dark hair that was now streaked with silver. He’d always been so meticulous about covering up. I wondered what changed.
“Yes and no.”
My gaze bounced between the two of them.
Though they were barely a year apart, you couldn’t tell.
Besides Jones not having silver in his hair, they looked identical.
The only difference was that Jones’s shoulders turned in slightly, and Jacob was more confident in his stance. Their dark eyes watched me.
Jones cleared his throat. “You’ve come into a great deal of money, which is fantastic. You are set for life.”
“Yes, fantastic,” Jacob echoed. “But with this money… It comes with some responsibility.”
There went my hope for normal.
“What does that mean?”
Jones smiled at me almost sympathetically. “You’re a smart girl, Poppy.”
Neither one of them elaborated.
“Okay?” I didn’t like being toyed with.
Jacob looked over at Jones. “How do we say this gently?”
Jones tilted his head. “Father, unfortunately, left some very big strings attached to that money.”
Then why would the money already be in my account?
Something wasn’t adding up.
Jacob finally sat down in his chair. “Father had some dealings he was working on tying up before his unfortunate demise. Which puts you directly in the center of all of it.”
Which would explain why those two women seemed concerned for my safety.
Jacob continued, “Father was working on a marriage proposal to one of his biggest competitors before everything happened.”
Jones rolled his eyes, bored with the way this conversation was going. “They wanted Jade, thinking the oldest daughter would be entitled to the biggest inheritance. Little did they know that Daddy Dearest had other plans. You are now on their radar and in their sights.”
“They want me for my money?”
“Obviously,” Jacob smirked. “But for more than that. They want you to marry their oldest son, Donovan, next year to join our families and the big deal they have proposed for our firm.”
I pressed my fingers into my temples as the room spun. “An arranged marriage? Is that what I’m hearing? Is this real life?”
They both laughed at the same time, like I was the one saying ridiculous things. Did they not hear what I said? Arranged marriage? That was barbaric, archaic. How was it even legal?
“Don’t look so horrified, sister,” Jones steepled his fingers in front of his face while he watched me. “Arranged marriage is very common in our world. You just don’t know it because of all the contracts needing to be signed.”
“What if I say no?” I had to have a say in all of this, right?
Jacob leaned forward. “There is no no. You marry Donovan Madden, and then everything works out for our empire.”
“I don’t want the money then,” I laughed, and it sounded hysterical. “You both can have it and marry into this crazy family. Maybe they have daughters?”
They shook their heads in unison. “No, that isn’t how this works. The money means nothing to us, but this deal… This deal is everything. It will change history, dear sister. You’re either going to marry Donovan, or Jane will.”
I frowned. Clarity seemed to slap me in the face. “Jane is fourteen.”
Jones breathed through his nose as if this were the most pleasant conversation he’d ever had. “Jane has a small fortune. Jane will also grow into her body and will be worth a lot when she’s older. So, here are your options. You marry Donovan Madden, or Jane will.”
“What if my fortune disappeared?”
Jacob’s jaw went tight as he ground his teeth together. “Then so will you.”